Papuan Logrunner

Orthonyx novaeguineae

A medium-sized, ground-dwelling bird of mossy montane forest. Brown streaked back, gray and buff wing bars, and gray face, extending down the sides of the chest. Male has a white throat and chest whereas in the female it is orange, both edged with a black line. Very skulking and hard to see. Forages by scratching the leaf-litter. Not really similar to any other ground-dwelling birds in the mountains. More often heard than see. Song is a very distinctive, descending series of clear, penetrating, whistled notes which sound slightly out of tune.

Identification

The Papuan logrunner or New Guinea logrunner (Orthonyx novaeguineae) is a species of bird in the family Orthonychidae. It was formerly considered conspecific with the Australian logrunner.

Taxonomy

Genus: Orthonyx; Family: Orthonychidae; Order: Passeriformes.

Scientific name
Orthonyx novaeguineae
Authority
Meyer, AB, 1874
Order
Passeriformes
Family
Orthonychidae
Genus
Orthonyx

Range and habitat

Migration
Resident species

Behavior

Migration pattern: Resident species.

Conservation

Population trend: stable.

Population trend
stable

Photos

Distribution

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